Proposal for the managing agency of the 886 billion VND National Highway 26B expansion project.

The project to upgrade and expand National Highway 26B in Khanh Hoa province will upgrade 13.3 km of the existing road from 2 lanes to 6 lanes, including 4 lanes for cars and 2 lanes for non-motorized vehicles.

A section of National Highway 26B passing through Khanh Hoa.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province has just signed Submission No. 1548/TTr - UBND to the Prime Minister proposing that the province be assigned as the managing agency for the project to upgrade and expand National Highway 26B in Khanh Hoa province.

This project is listed under category number 5, Appendix II of Resolution No. 106/2023/QH15 dated November 28, 2023, of the National Assembly on piloting some specific policies on investment in road construction projects, and the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province has completed the preparation of the research report proposing the investment policy under the condition that it is assigned as the managing agency.

Accordingly, the project has a total length of 13.3km; the starting point intersects with the upgraded Provincial Road 1B interchange, and the end point intersects with National Highway 1 at Km1415+250. The route will be upgraded and expanded from 2 lanes to 6 lanes, including 4 lanes for cars and 2 lanes for non-motorized vehicles; the roadbed width is 26m, and the road surface width is 22m.

In addition, the project also invests in expanding 43 transverse drainage culverts; completing the lighting system, traffic safety measures, and other infrastructure along the route.

With the investment scale as described above, the Project has a preliminary total investment of VND 886.827 billion, sourced from the provincial budget and other legal capital sources. The Project implementation period is 2024 – 2025.

In the event that the Prime Minister assigns the role of managing agency, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province commits to completing the National Highway 26B upgrade and expansion project on schedule as approved. This includes completing the appraisal and approval of the Investment Policy Proposal Report in Q1/2024; preparing, appraising, and approving the Feasibility Study Report in Q2/2024; preparing, appraising, and approving the construction drawings and cost estimates in Q3/2024; completing land clearance and commencing construction in Q4/2024; and completing the project and handing it over for use in Q4/2025.

The People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province plans to assign the Van Phong Economic Zone Management Board - an agency directly under the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province, established by a decision of the Prime Minister - to act as the investor for the project to upgrade and expand National Highway 26B.

The People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province has issued Resolution No. 76/NQ-HĐND committing to allocating local budget funds to implement the project to upgrade and expand National Highway 26B. In the event that factors arise that increase the scale or total investment, the locality is responsible for allocating local budget funds and other legal sources of funding to complete the project on schedule as committed.

Upon completion, the project to upgrade and expand National Highway 26B will unleash the potential for tourism and marine economic development, enhance connectivity of key transportation infrastructure with a ripple effect, create regional linkages, connect industrial zones, export processing zones, potential seaport planning areas, and international transport corridors.

At the same time, the road creates a link with the regional transportation network and connects the technical infrastructure of industrial parks in the Van Phong Economic Zone; creating new impetus and space to serve economic development in accordance with the development orientation of the South Van Phong area and Ninh Hoa town as per Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW dated January 28, 2022 of the Politburo and Resolution No. 42/NQ-CP dated March 21, 2022 of the Government.

Through this, essential transportation infrastructure projects in the approved planning area will be gradually completed, attracting investment, ensuring national security and defense, and serving economic development in the southern part of the Van Phong Economic Zone in particular and the Van Phong Economic Zone of Khanh Hoa province in general.

Furthermore, upon completion, this road, along with the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway, will strengthen the horizontal axis connecting to the Eastern North-South expressway, forming a complete road transport network to serve the connection between Khanh Hoa and the Central Highlands and the South Central Coast, linking economic centers and seaports, and meeting transportation needs. This will create regional linkages and a strong impetus for development in the Central Highlands and the South Central Coast.

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